No word on the contractual status of Kwame "Cut a Rug" Brown, Will "The Thrill" Bynum or Ben Wallace yet except that Joe Dumars "contacted" them after midnight. Matt Barnes and Brendan Haywood were also reportedly "contacted", though between the two, I would rather obtain Haywood. A most exciting time indeed, even if we're ensnared within the confines of the mid-level exception. Hopefully Joe Dumars scores a four point play in free agency.

I'm thinking Joe won't use the MLE this summer unless he can make a trade to free up more cap room. For Will I'm thinking about 5 years / $20Million (first year would be $3.5M), because what Will gets will probably set precedent for Stuckey this summer. Offer Ben a $5M deal, whether we spend teh MLE has everything to do with what our team and salary situation looks like after a trade.

According to the latest rumor Pistons offered their full MLE to Haywood. They also may have a sizable offer for Barnes.
Another source says that the team might have a commitment today from Bynum and that would set a few other things in motion.
I wonder what are those things...

Getting Haywood would be a big step in fixing the problems at the 5. He is the best FA center out there. But with Amir and Darko getting big money, MLE, although fair for a guy that is 30 will probably not get the job done. Also if JD uses the full MLE he has to trade Rip for capp spayce, or else he might not have the money to extend Stuckey and Jerebko next season.

According to the latest rumor Pistons offered their full MLE to Haywood. They also may have a sizable offer for Barnes.
Another source says that the team might have a commitment today from Bynum and that would set a few other things in motion.
I wonder what are those things...

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If that is true, Tay must be as good as GONE! But that kinda pisses me off, all these years where we needed a backup for Tay, I was ALWAYS clamoring to go after Matt Barnes, he's sooooo underrated, always works hard, can knock down the trey, always outplays his contract and expectations...ALWAYS! And some off brand team would eventually sign him with the bi-annual exception or the vet minimum, now we have 4 good SF's, and NOW you wanna make a run at this guy? WTH!!!

I would not spend too much for Haywood. It's been crazy so far. Such of a players market now that I would not blame Dumars if he just sat this one out. We already have several bad contracts on the books.

I don't understand how GM's and owners get drunk on cap space and then turn around and give the type of contracts we have been seeing that everyone knows they are going to regret.